Manchester United 3-0 Burnley

Three late goals gave Manchester United a flattering margin of victory after Burnley had matched them for more than an hour of this contest.

United were disjointed and lacking in confidence until Dimitar Berbatov’s deflected shot finally broke the deadlock.

But even then the visitors had their chances and young substitute Mame Diouf‘s first goal for United was unfair on the Clarets in their first match under new boss Brian Laws.

Burnley had the best chance of the opening period when they caught United badly undermanned at the back with a quick break, only for Steven Fletcher to drag his left foot shot across goal and wide.

Portuguese midfielder Nani summed up his season with a complete miskick when well-placed on the edge of the box.

But his overhead kick brought the first save out of Clarets keeper Brian Jensen…in the 45th minute.

On-loan striker David Nugent wasted Burnley’s best chance just before the hour mark.

He was sent clear by former United player Chris Eagles as United were caught on the break once more. But although he rolled his right-foot shot past Edwin Van der Sar, the ball also went wide of the returning United keeper’s left-hand post.

Four minutes later, United were ahead. Berbatov had already missed a golden opportunity, which he’d created himself – the best and worst of him inside two seconds. With the aid of a vital deflection, though, his left-foot shot this time bounced over Jensen and inside the far post.

Jensen saved well again from Berbatov five minutes later, but Wayne Rooney patiently worked himself a decent position from the rebound before placing his right-foot shot perfectly past the big keeper.

Stephen Thompson’s 83rd minute header struck a post before United added their flattering third, Diouf running on to a long, raking pass from Antonio Valencia and heading the ball over the advancing Jensen.